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Writing is an escape, a foray into a new world or a channel to new information. This week in Lifestyle, we have asked three of our writers to share an inspirational text with us that they would recommend, from pure science to the unfortunate trials of first interactions with boys. Make time for yourself to sit down one evening this week and have a read; you might think you already do enough of that in the library, but after a long hard day of scouring incomprehensible mazes of information, these offerings might provide a refreshing change in material.

ELIZABETH GREENBERG

“The Egg and the Sperm: how science has constructed a romance based on stereotypical male and female roles” by E.Martin

At least the assigned textbook for first year biology students does not use a sexist narrative to describe the egg and the sperm. Trust me, I know that assigned readings are usually a turn off, but this article was really interesting, and made me re-evaluate a lot of the textbooks I’ve read and a lot of the documentaries I’ve watched. Sexism is rife in a lot of what we are taught in schools, but when I looked at the assigned textbook for a biology course, I found no sexism whatsoever. Purely science. And that’s the way it should be.

EMILY HALL

Notes to Boys by Pamela Ribbon

While not inspirational in the traditional sense, this humorous (and unfortunately, real) compilation of notes that the author wrote to boys as she grew up serves as a celebration of the cringe that helped me to take myself a little bit less seriously and embrace the often-forgotten human side of femininity.

KATHARINE COOKE

Girl Up by Laura Bates

Girl Up is an unapologetic, concise and hilarious guide to being an adolescent female today. Bates, the founder of the ‘Everyday Sexism Project’ has created a masterpiece, a go-to guide for feminism, body positivity, sex education and so much more. It’s safe to say, I wish that I’d read it years ago, and I bet you will too.

ANIA KUROWSKA

Kiss Kiss by Roal Dahl

Don’t hesitate to grab Roald Dahl’s Kiss Kiss – his collection of short stories. Each story takes you to a different corner of Dahl’s inventive, unsettling mind and makes you wish you could never leave it. If you’re looking for a particular highlight within the book, make sure you read “William and Mary”. It’s a sci-fi story with a twist; the plot goes in the exact opposite direction of what you would expect!